US wants Security Council vote first on Ukraine, diplomats say

The United States wants the U.N. Security Council to vote on a brief draft resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday before the 193-member General Assembly votes on the same text, diplomats said on Saturday.

The U.S. move at the U.N. pits it against Ukraine and the European Union, which have for the past month been negotiating with U.N. member states on their own draft text on the war, which is due to be voted on by the General Assembly on Monday.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that the U.S. had declined to co-sponsor the text drafted by Ukraine and the EU. Then on Friday, Washington proposed its own resolution for a General Assembly vote on Monday as well. Late on Friday, the U.S. also gave the same draft resolution to the Security Council.

A Security Council vote on the U.S. draft has not yet been scheduled, diplomats said. A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Russia, China, Britain or France to be adopted.

Reuters